Planning panel commissioner takes a break
NORWALK — Nora King’s 10-year political career is coming to an end for now.
King, a Democrat, said it was a “tough decision” to not seek reappointment to the Planning Commission, which she’s been a member of for the last four years.
Instead, King said she’s focusing on her work, which includes running a real estate appraisal company and her newly acquired business, The Tipsea Trailer, a traveling “dry hire” bar people can rent and use at their parties. King also wants to focus
on her family, which includes her two young children in elementary and middle school.
“Planning and Zoning terms are four years. In four years, my kid will only have two years left of high school,” King said. “I feel I just want to take a pause. I’m still active. I’m more focused on things that are really important to my family right now.”
In addition to focusing on her family and business, King said the handling of the Norwalk High School project swayed her from seeking another term on the Planning Commission. Earlier this year, Mayor Harry Rilling added $50.8 million back into the fiscal year 2020-21 capital budget after the Planning Commission voted to remove the controversial project from the budget. The Board of Estimate and Taxation approved the budget with the item included.
King, who spent the majority of her political career advocating for the schools, said she felt the process was “underhanded.”
Prior to serving on the Planning Commission, King served on the Common Council and the Zoning Commission.
While on Common Council, she helped create the city’s Customer Service Department and secure $6 million of funding for an addition to the Rowayton School.
Over the course of her time
serving the city, King chimed in on key city issues like the city’s most recent master plan and the East Norwalk Transit Oriented Development. King said at times she was a “misfit” by refusing to stick to party lines.
“People are real party people here,” she said. “They’re diehard Republican or die-hard Democrat and I’ve been like ‘well, this is the right thing to do.’ It gets me in trouble sometimes, but I’m proud of it. It’s who I am.”
King said she’ll continue to stay involved in the community, including remaining a member of the Finance Sub-Committee of the Norwalk Public Schools Re-Opening Task Force.
“It’s been a good run,” she said. “I encourage anybody to do it.”
The Common Council on Tuesday night was expected to appoint Democrat Tamara Shockley to fill King’s seat.